Cardisoma armatum: Difference between revisions
GrahamBould (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
m typo |
||
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
'''''Cardisoma armatum''''' is a [[species]] of [[land crab|terrestrial crab]]. It is sometimes referred to as the '''(African) rainbow crab''', '''(Nigerian) moon crab''' or '''patriot crab'''. Adults are sometimes labelled as ''soapdish crabs'' in the [[pet industry]]. This name derives from their [[aggression|aggressive nature]] as adults and when being shipped to pet stores, they are often packed in [[soap dish]]es to prevent them from killing each other. The names ''moon crab'' and ''soapdish crab'' are sometimes applied to other similar crab species, leading to frequent confusion with other colourful crabs such as the three remaining species of ''[[Cardisoma]]'', ''[[Gecarcinus ruricola]]'' and ''[[Gecarcinus quadratus|G. quadratus]]'' - all except ''[[Cardisoma carnifex|C. carnifex]]'' from the [[Americas]]. ''Cardisoma armatum'' originates from coastal regions of western [[Africa]], but it also occurs inland along some deltas (e.g. the [[Volta river]] delta), and on islands such as [[Cape Verde Islands|Cape Verde]]. |
'''''Cardisoma armatum''''' is a [[species]] of [[land crab|terrestrial crab]]. It is sometimes referred to as the '''(African) rainbow crab''', '''(Nigerian) moon crab''' or '''patriot crab'''. Adults are sometimes labelled as ''soapdish crabs'' in the [[pet industry]]. This name derives from their [[aggression|aggressive nature]] as adults and when being shipped to pet stores, they are often packed in [[soap dish]]es to prevent them from killing each other. The names ''moon crab'' and ''soapdish crab'' are sometimes applied to other similar crab species, leading to frequent confusion with other colourful crabs such as the three remaining species of ''[[Cardisoma]]'', ''[[Gecarcinus ruricola]]'' and ''[[Gecarcinus quadratus|G. quadratus]]'' - all except ''[[Cardisoma carnifex|C. carnifex]]'' from the [[Americas]]. ''Cardisoma armatum'' originates from coastal regions of western [[Africa]], but it also occurs inland along some deltas (e.g. the [[Volta river]] delta), and on islands such as [[Cape Verde Islands|Cape Verde]]. |
||
When young, these crabs typically have a blueish/violet [[carapace]], red–coloured legs, and whitish claws. This coloration usually fades as the animal grows older. They can reach a carapace size of 20 cm across, although captive individuals rarely reach this size. Their diet consists mainly of [[fruit]], vegetation and [[carrion]]. They are known to be [[cannibalism|cannibalistic]], and will consume smaller crabs, small [[reptile]]s and [[amphibian]]s, [[mollusc]]s, [[fish]], and [[insect]]s if they can catch them. While juvenile and adult crabs spend most of their time on dry land, the females must return to the [[ocean]] to release their eggs. The eggs hatch into microscopic larvae, and later |
When young, these crabs typically have a blueish/violet [[carapace]], red–coloured legs, and whitish claws. This coloration usually fades as the animal grows older. They can reach a carapace size of 20 cm across, although captive individuals rarely reach this size. Their diet consists mainly of [[fruit]], vegetation and [[carrion]]. They are known to be [[cannibalism|cannibalistic]], and will consume smaller crabs, small [[reptile]]s and [[amphibian]]s, [[mollusc]]s, [[fish]], and [[insect]]s if they can catch them. While juvenile and adult crabs spend most of their time on dry land, the females must return to the [[ocean]] to release their eggs. The eggs hatch into microscopic larvae, and later on develop into young crabs. If the young do not make landfall by the time they are fully developed they will drown. |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 03:22, 17 February 2009
| Cardisoma armatum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Subphylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Infraorder: | |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. armatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cardisoma armatum Herklots, 1851
| |
Cardisoma armatum is a species of terrestrial crab. It is sometimes referred to as the (African) rainbow crab, (Nigerian) moon crab or patriot crab. Adults are sometimes labelled as soapdish crabs in the pet industry. This name derives from their aggressive nature as adults and when being shipped to pet stores, they are often packed in soap dishes to prevent them from killing each other. The names moon crab and soapdish crab are sometimes applied to other similar crab species, leading to frequent confusion with other colourful crabs such as the three remaining species of Cardisoma, Gecarcinus ruricola and G. quadratus - all except C. carnifex from the Americas. Cardisoma armatum originates from coastal regions of western Africa, but it also occurs inland along some deltas (e.g. the Volta river delta), and on islands such as Cape Verde.
When young, these crabs typically have a blueish/violet carapace, red–coloured legs, and whitish claws. This coloration usually fades as the animal grows older. They can reach a carapace size of 20 cm across, although captive individuals rarely reach this size. Their diet consists mainly of fruit, vegetation and carrion. They are known to be cannibalistic, and will consume smaller crabs, small reptiles and amphibians, molluscs, fish, and insects if they can catch them. While juvenile and adult crabs spend most of their time on dry land, the females must return to the ocean to release their eggs. The eggs hatch into microscopic larvae, and later on develop into young crabs. If the young do not make landfall by the time they are fully developed they will drown.
References
- Bright, D., & C. Hogue. 1972. A synopsis of burrowing land crabs of the World and list of their arthropod symbionts and burrow associates. Contributions in Science. No. 220. Available online (PDF)
- Matt Clarke (2005-11-14). "Rainbow crab, Cardisoma armatum". Practical Fishkeeping.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - D. Warren. "Cardisoma armatum". Retrieved 2007-07-16.
 | This crab article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |